Global Gateway Roundtable on West African Corridors
- Multisectors
- Africa
Join us on Tuesday, 16 September in Brussels for the Global Gateway Roundtable on West African Corridors. Explore business opportunities in energy, transport, health, agrifood, and infrastructure across four strategic corridors, and connect with Belgian, EU, and West African stakeholders to boost private sector engagement in the region’s development.
About
As part of the Team Belgium Global Gateway approach, the FPS Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with Enabel, FIT, AWEX, and hub.brussels, is hosting a roundtable dedicated to 4 strategic corridors in West Africa (corridors leading to Dakar, Abidjan and Cotonou).
The roundtable will bring together Belgian, European, and West African key stakeholders to highlight concrete business opportunities arising from international development programmes, in particular those linked to the EU’s Global Gateway Strategy.
During the roundtable, we will go deeper into the business opportunities linked to the realisation of 4 strategic corridors (Dakar-Abidjan, Abidjan-Cotonou-Lagos, Abidjan-Ouagadougou, and Cotonou-Malanville) based on the national agenda of development of the partner countries as well as the international development programmes for the region.
The thematic sessions will explore investment, export, partnership, project execution, and technology transfer opportunities in sectors such as energy, transport, health, infrastructure, and agrifood along these corridors.
Why attend?
To identify real business opportunities, connect with key stakeholders, and position your company in high-potential markets aligned with West African and European development priorities.
Program
Draft agenda subject to change
| 8:30 – 9:30 AM
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INFORMAL NETWORKING BREAKFAST |
| FIRST PART: INTRODUCTORY SESSION
Moderated by Mr. Mathias HAERYNCK (TBC)
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| 9:30 – 9:40 AM | Opening
Welcoming Words Ms. Heidy ROMBOUT – Director General of the DGD, FPS Foreign Affairs Keynote Address Mr. Maxime PRÉVOT – Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Development Cooperation
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| 9:40 – 9:50 AM
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Concept of Strategic Corridors in Africa for the Global Gateway
DG INTPA, EUROPEAN COMMISSION Speaker: TBC
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| 9:50 – 10:00 AM | Concept of Impact Triangle
Speaker: Enabel or DGD (TBC)
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| 10:00 – 10:05 AM
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Role of the EU-Africa Business Forum Facility
Speaker: EABF Facility (TBC)
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| 10:05 – 10:10 AM
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Questions & Answers |
| COFFEE BREAK (20 MIN)
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| SECOND PART: COTONOU – OPPORTUNITIES ALONG THE CORRIDORS LEADING TO COTONOU
Moderated by TBC
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| 10:30 – 12:00 PM
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Priority sectors of Beninese Government for Development and local contacts
Speaker: Ambabel Cotonou (TBC) Enabel Portfolio and Opportunities for companies in on-going and future projects Speaker: Mr. Jean-Christophe CHARLIER – Enabel (TBC) On-going and future projects opportunities in Benin, Togo & Nigeria led by World Bank and the AfDB Speakers: FPS Finance & FPS Foreign Affairs, DGD (TBC) Questions & Answers
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| LIGHT LUNCH & NETWORKING (80 MIN)
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| 1:20 – 1:30 PM
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Afternoon Keynote
Ms. Birgit STEVENS – Director General of the DGB, FPS Foreign Affairs
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| THIRD PART: ABIDJAN – OPPORTUNITIES ALONG THE CORRIDORS LEADING TO ABIDJAN
Moderated by TBC
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| 1:30 – 3:00 PM | Priority sectors of Ivorian Government for Development and local contacts
Speakers: Ambabel Abidjan + CEC AWEX Enabel Portfolio and Opportunities for companies in on-going and future projects Speaker: Enabel (TBC) On-going and future projects opportunities in Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso & Ghana led by World Bank and the AfDB Speakers: FPS Finance & FPS Foreign Affairs, DGD (TBC) Questions & Answers
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| COFFEE BREAK (20 MIN)
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| FOURTH PART: DAKAR – OPPORTUNITIES ALONG THE PRAIA-DAKAR-ABIDJAN CORRIDOR
Moderated by TBC
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3:20 – 4:50 PM
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Priority sectors of Senegalese Government for Development and local contacts
Speakers: Ambabel Dakar (TBC) + General Representative hub.brussels Enabel Portfolio and Opportunities for companies in on-going and future projects Speaker: Enabel (TBC) On-going and future projects opportunities in Senegal, Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea & Sierra Leone led by World Bank and the AfDB Speakers : FPS Finance & FPS Foreign Affairs, DGD (TBC) Questions & Answers
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| 4:50 – 5:00 PM
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Concluding remarks
TBC |
Practical info
Registration
The roundtable is open to all Belgian companies with a potential economic interest in the West African corridors upon registration and validation. Space is limited, allowing a maximum of one participant per company. Registration will follow a first-come, first-served principle, and a waiting list will be established if necessary.
Registration fee per company
Participation is free of charge.
Please note: If you register but do not attend without notifying us at least 72 hours in advance via email, a fee of 100 euros (excluding VAT) will be charged for a “no-show.”
Language
The seminar will be conducted in English & French, without simultaneous translation.
Location
Egmont Palace, Rue des Petits Carmes 8, Brussels.
Useful resources
I'm taking part in the roundtable!
Registrations open until 7 September 2025
Any questions? Just ask Reinout!
Reinout Van Hullebus
Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the European Union - international organisations
Rue Belliard 65,
1040 Brussels
Belgium
